Books to take to the beach, the bush, the balcony, or that one relative’s house you escape into the bathroom to survive.
First Class Magazine’s Holiday Reading Guide
Whether you’re planning a grand European summer or simply hiding from your family behind a strategically positioned cheese board, these books will keep you company. We’ve sorted the list by mood, temperament, and level of emotional resilience.
Rom-Com: My Favourite Mistake – Marian Keyes
There’s a reason Marian Keyes is the unofficial patron saint of rom-com with heart: her prose hits the sweet spot between laugh-out-loud humour and genuine emotion. In My Favourite Mistake, Irish heroine Anna Walsh returns from New York to rural Ireland confronting not just menopausal mayhem and family chaos, but also the charming ex she never expected to see again, “Narky” Joey Armstrong, a man whose nickname alone suggests trouble and bad life choices. It’s sharp, warm and quintessentially Keyes: rom-com that feels real.
Holiday appeal: witty escapism meets heartfelt reflection, perfect for lazy afternoons with wine.
Fantasy: Jodi McAlister’s Valentine series
Romance, faeries, mystery, this YA urban fantasy trilogy is the kind of book that doesn’t just get read, it absorbs you. The series starts with Valentine, featuring Pearl Linford and the charmingly complicated Finn Blacklin in a supernatural puzzle set in a small Australian town. Creatures of faerie lore, danger and teen romance combine to make this fantastical romp also feel grounded and fun. It’s perfect for readers who want more than predictability in their beach bag fiction.
Holiday appeal: magic plus teen angst plus snappy prose equals addictive vacation reading.
Literary: Ghost Cities – Siang Lu
If your ideal holiday book is literary, ambitious and beautifully written, Ghost Cities will satisfy. Winner of the 2025 Miles Franklin Award, this novel blends two narrative threads: a man in modern Sydney losing his job as a translator (utterly dependent on Google Translate, to his detriment) and an ancient mythical emperor’s story told centuries earlier. It’s witty, inventive, and deeply reflective, a meditation on storytelling, identity and belonging with humour woven through its folds.
Holiday appeal: contemplative, clever and satisfying, ideal for long flights or sunlit verandas.
YA: Girls in Boys’ Cars – Felicity Castagna
Felicity Castagna’s road-trip YA novel pivots on adventure, friendship and self-discovery. Two protagonists, Rosa and Asheeka, impulsively steal a car and embark on a road trip that is less about arriving somewhere, more about becoming someone. Set against familiar Western Sydney landscapes, it subverts road trip tropes with its sharp and empathetic look at youth, identity and the power of stories we tell about ourselves. Award-winning and critically acclaimed, it’s a story that’s both accessible and emotionally rich.
Holiday appeal: fun, raw and honest, perfect under the sun, preferably in a car seat with snacks.
Crime: Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
This international bestseller is a modern classic of Southern Gothic coming-of-age. The story centres on Kya, the “Marsh Girl,” who grows up alone in the marshlands of North Carolina and survives through instinct, nature and sheer grit. Two timelines unfold, her wild upbringing and a murder investigation, ultimately intertwining in a suspenseful and poignant way. With millions of copies sold and a successful film adaptation, this one’s a long-read that rewards attention.
Holiday appeal: atmospheric, gripping and evocative, you won’t want to put it down.
Memoir: The Year of Magical Thinking – Joan Didion
Prepare to pause between chuckles with something deeper. Didion’s landmark 2005 memoir, a profound exploration of grief and memory after the sudden death of her husband, has become a touchstone in nonfiction. Elegant, unflinching and exquisitely written, it’s not light reading in the flippant sense, but its insight into love, loss and life makes it deeply worthwhile.
Holiday appeal: quiet reflection with powerfully resonant prose for when you want something that stays with you.
Comedy: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Books 1–4) – Douglas Adams
No holiday list is complete without this delightfully absurd romp. Opening with hapless Englishman Arthur Dent’s house about to be bulldozed, only to learn the entire Earth is next. Adams’s genius is his blend of baffling logic, dry satire and bizarre characters (robots, presidents, improbability drives and all). Each book revels in the ridiculous, cushioned in exacting, sly wit.
Holiday appeal: belly laughs, quotable lines and pure fun, ideally paired with a drink and zero obligations.
Whether you’re after laughter, magic, mystery or emotional richness, this list has it covered with the perfect companions for any festive break, poolside or otherwise.
Happy reading!
